Book Review : Desperate in Dubai by Ameera Al Hakawati

Introduction

ISBN9788184001716

GenreFiction

Pages560

Publisher Random House India

Price Rs.
299/- ( I got this book for review from the publisher)

The first thing that interested me in this
book was that it was written by a blogger turned author and it was really
inspiring. I am sure every blogger dreams of something like this. Moreover
given the backdrop of a city like Dubai it became an instant hit too. No wonder
I was more than happy to receive this book for review as it had been on my
to-be-read list for too long! And I was not at all disappointed.

For a first timer the author has done an exemplary
job in this book giving you a light read promising loads of laughs and tears at
the same time. Though the book is not very high on the emotional side, there
are few places where I could actually feel tears stinging my eyes. Over all a
fun read to be devoured at leisure.

Behind the
Book

Source: Google Images

UAE’s answer
to Desperate Housewives – Timeout Dubai

About the
author

Ameera Al
Hakawati is a pseudonym taken by the author of this book. Originally this book
was started as a blog which was later converted to a full fledged book with a
few changes.

Me thinks

The moment you read the name and the blurb
you would conclude it is a chick lit but as you read chapter after chapter you
realise it is much more than just that. It is about friends, love, career,
marriage, and family – all those things which make your life beautiful and
meaningful.

The story is about four women trying to find
a foothold in Dubai in different ways. They are interconnected to each other but
what sets them apart is their search in Dubai. One is running away from her
past, one is tired of her life and is trying to lead a second life with a
hidden identity; the other is at a stage where she has to take some life
altering decisions while the last one is here on a look out for a wealthy
husband. They are all looking for love – a love for life, love with a dream,
love with a person and a love for one’s own self. The entire time that I was reading
this book I had a feeling of being present (invisibly) with four friends and
witnessing their lives.

The emotions, wishes and dreams of the women there
carefully hidden beneath their abayas is very beautifully brought out by the
author. I have always felt women are mysteries – what goes on behind those kohl
lined eyes, tinkling bangles, dangling earrings, shimmering purses is beyond
description. There lies a world which is different from the ones they exist in.
It is their world, where they are themselves, where they let their hair down
and just be what they are. We are all bound by various cultural and religious
beliefs which we adhere to diligently. But deep down what all of us want is to
break away from those shackles and fly… search a sky of our own, feel the
freedom, smell the roses and be us. The book is about this journey. The author has tried to unravel this
mystery in a magnificent manner. It touched my heart to see that though at
times these characters seemed materialistic at the end of the day all that they
wanted was love.

The description of the locales is truly
breath taking, making it a perfect ode to a beautiful city like Dubai and its
colourful nightlife. Though there are portions where you feel the mention of
brands is a bit too stretched but then I guess that makes it more authentic and
realistic too. The language is very eloquent sprinkled with a healthy dose of
local dialect making it one entertaining read.I thoroughly enjoyed reading it as for me it was like being in Dubai
having the time of my life with four wonderful friends for company!

I would recommend this to all women as we
really need to see a world which is so different than ours but with emotions so
similar!

Foodie
Verdict

Source: Google Images

This book is like a bag full of dates. It is healthy ( for your heart and soul ofcourse!!) tasty (interesting) and tempting (you simply cannot stop once you have one) - you have to complete the whole bag!

Hours after finishing this book I was still feeling the jitters!
That one line should tell you how thrilling was this book from the first page itself. This is the first book of the author I have read and I need to confess I am a FAN now...

My rating: 4.5/5
Very rarely do you come across a debut novel that claims to be a thriller and it actually does that... thrill you! Reading this book has been an adventure, extremely enjoyable and one that left me mixed feelings.
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